Method of constructing and installing windows



March 19, 1935. A B J, TRlLLER 1,995,233

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND INSTALLING WNDC'dS www i March 19,1935. K B; .L TRM LER 1,995,233

METHOD oF CONSTRUCTING AND INSTALLING wIhNDows March 19, -1935. B, J, TRMER 1,995,233

METHOD OF CONSTRUC'TING AND INSTALLING WINDOWS Filed April l2, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 Sme/vwo@ Patented Mar. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE- METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND IN- STALLIN G WINDOWS Benjamin J. Triller, Dubuque, Iowa Application April '12, 1933, Serial No. 665,782 5 claims.` (o1. 213-11)v The main object of the invention is to provide a method of constructing and installing windows, particularly double hung and easement windows, whereby only an outer window frame section devoid of runways and sash is installed during the erection of the superstructure, and an inner window frame, section with pre-fitted, pre-hung and pre-weatherstripped window sash, is installed in intertting relation to the said outer frame section after the building has been.

. without variation in the basic principles of the invention either as to structure or method `of installation of the window frame or sash.

With these and other objects in view, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a Vertical sectional view of a double hung window constructed and installed in accordance with' this inventionfbut not entirely uncrated or trimmed-out,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same entirely installed and trimmed-out.

Fig. 3 is a room-side elevational view of a fragment of Fig. 1, l

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Fig. 1 on aline above the window frame,

IFig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Fig. 2 on a line below the head of the frame, only with both sash raised.

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating how the filling strip may be varied in the thickness to come flush with the face of the plaster or other finish of the Wall,

Fig. 7 is a View in elevation of the crated inner frame section and sash,

Fig. 8 vis a vertical sectional view therethrough,

Fig. 9 is asimilar view of the same with the sash removed, Y

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the details of construction of an upper corner of the inner frame section,

Fig. 11 is a 4detail view in horizontal section of a. fragment of the crated frame and a sash,

Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation of a spring drum sash balance,

Fig. 13 is a view in front elevation of a casement window constructed and installed in accordance with this invention,'

. splashed with plaster.

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the modincation,

Fig. l5 is a. horizontal sectional view taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16.is a similar view taken through another part,

Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation of a casement window and sash crated for shipment.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Fig. 1'7 on line 19-19, and

Fig. 19 isa horizontal view showing an inner easement frame assembled for nailing with the outer banding only removed.

Referring to the drawings, a basic building wall is indicated in each of Figs. v1 and 2 by brace A. This wall may be constructed in conventional manner of Wood or masonry, though in the specific example, it is constructedpf wood. Reference numerals 2, 3 and 4 represent studding forming the head, jambs and sill of a window opening in said wall. The interior face of the basic wall A may be finished in any conventional manner, lathing 5 and plastering 6 being selected for the specific example.

An exterior facing 7 of any material such as wood, plastic coating, or plastic material blocks may be applied to the basic wall in conventional manner, weatherboarding is selected for the specific example. A drip cap 7' may be applied over the outer casing.

Adjacent the window opening, a fixing layer 8 is employed, the same occurring between the basic wall A and the outer `facing 7. Throughout the remainder of the wall, the space between the basic wall A and outer facing '7 may be filled with any material 8'. In a frame building both the fixing layer 8 and fillingfmaterial 8' will comprise the conventional sheathing usually'applied to frame walls, while in masonry buildings, the layer 8 will be of wood and the filling or balance of the layer 8 of mortar'. Builders paper 9 is incorporated somewhere between the outer facing '7 and the basic wall A, usually between the fixing strip 8 and the outer facing 7.

It is customary to install entire window frames in a building before plastering and like rough and wet work has been completed, thereby causing the framesto become marred from knocks, and even though primed, to become warped and to have the grain of the wood raised from ab` sorption of moisture, to say nothing of becoming These diiculties are avoided under the present invention by constructing the window frames in two distinct sections, the outer section only being installed as the superstructure is being erected and prior to plastering and other work which usually cause damage to the runway parts of conventional frames. The

' inner frame section which carries the runways for these splines.

the sash and which should be protected against moisture and damage to its nish is not installed until after plastering and other rough work has been completed. y

The outer frame consists of two sections, the outer of which comprises a head strip 10 and jamb strips l', while the inner section comprises head stripll and jamb strips ll', these constitute the usual outer casing. 'The head strip of each of these sections is jointed in any conventional manner to the jamb strips and the two sections are then secured together by screws 12 passing through the inner section into the outer section. I he strips 10 and 10 are provided with splines 13 which enter grooves 14 formed in the strips 11 and 11 and the said screws 12 pass through Space is provided between these frame sections along the sides and top into which the builders paper 9 is inserted to effectively close the space between the wall and outer frame against the entry of winds. The inner of the two outer frame sections is smaller than the other so that one is oiset from the other to provide a blind stop 15. The jamb strips 10' and 11 of the outer frame sections are secured to an outer sill 16 in any conventional manner as by mortise and tenon joints. Nails 17 secure the outer section strips 10, 10' of the outer frame to the xing strips 8 and in frame buildings may additionally extend into the studding 2 and 3. The sill 16 is secured to the studding 4 or fixing strip 8, one or both according to the type of wall, by nails 17. After the ground strips 18 are applied, plastering and other work which ordinarily cause damage to runways of window frames is completed, after which the inner frame is installed.

The inner frame comes from the factory packaged as illustrated in Fig. 7, though the outer frame may be shipped set up or in knockdown form. The inner frame comprises head, jamb and sill sections 20, 21 and 22, respectively, the sill fitting into grooves 24 in the inner faces of the jamb sections 21 and the head and jamb sections 20 and 21 respectively being jointed together as illustrated in Fig. 10. The head section 20 and jamb sections 21 are provided with conventional grooves 25 which receive customary parting strips 26. The head section 20 is made up of compound lumber and consists of a central strip 20a and outer strips 2Gb and 20c. The central strip, a short distance from its ends is sawed inwardly from opposite edges vforming shoulders 20d and is then sawedlongitudinally `from its ends to said shoulders 20d, forming a tongue 20e which ts between two tenons 21a formed on the jamb strips 21, shoulders 20! being provided on the tongue 20e forming stops to hold the jamb sections 2'1 apart the proper distance. When the strips 20h and 20c have been secured to the opposite edges of the central strip 20a, two parallel longitudinal slots occur at each end of the head section 20, and =these slots are closed at their outer ends by the tenons 21a. The strips 20h and 20c engage the outer sides of the tenons 21a. The strips 20h and 20c rest upon shoulders 2lb located at the outer sides of the tenons 21a and the tongue 20e rests upon the shoulder 21 locatedbetween the tenons 21a. Within the runways of the jambs 21 are provided tapering or wedge shaped strips 27 and 28, to be later described, the upper end of one of these, namely 27 appearing in Fig. 10 and being secured to the jamb section 21. The strips 28 as well as one of each pair of tenons 21a and the underside of the head section are countersunk as at 29-29' to receive the ears 30-30' of the casings of spring drum counterbalances 31 of the general type shown in Patent 500,967, the tapes 32 of which are attached to the window sash 33, 34 in conventional manner.

The casings of these spring drum balances 3l extend upwardly through the slots formed in the head sections 20 between the outer strips 2Gb, 20c and center strip 20a.

The stiles of the sash 33 and 34 are shaped to provide tapering ribs 35 and 36 adjacent the parting strips 26 as seen in Figs. l and 5, and these are inclosed in U-shaped tapering metal weather strips 37 and 38 respectively. The central portion of these weather strips are tacked as at 39 to the sash ribs leaving the flanges 40 and 41 free to spring away from the faces of the sash. The anges 40 are arranged to resiliently engage the parting strips 26 while the flanges 41 are arranged to resiliently engage the wedge shaped strips 27 and 28. When the sash 33'and 34 are in closed position the tapering formation of the Wedge strips 27 and 28 and of the weatherstrips 37 and 38 cause the fianges 40 of the weather strips to be compressed between the parting strip 26 and the faces of the sash, and the flanges 4l of the weather strips to be compressed between the wedge strips 27 and 28 and the adjacent faces of the tapering ribs 35 and 36, as seen in Fig. 5. The faces of the tapering ribs and weatherstrips adjacent the jambs 20' at all times stand quite a distance away from the faces of the said jambs whereby a dead air space 42, as also seen in Fig. r is provided as an additional weatherproong feature when the two-point weather sealing contact is established by the flanges 40 and 41 with the runways. l

Attention is directed to the fact that the sash have to be moved only a few inches from their closed position to relieve them of virtually all drag of the weather strips against the runways. This makes it necessary to employ sash balances suflicient to only counter-balance the weight of the sash without additional compensation for drag ofweatherstripping throughout the entire movement of the sash in opening and closing.

The top rail of the upper sash 33 is provided f with a resilient metal weather strip 43 secured to the upper edge of the' sash and having a ange 44 depending between the parting strip 26 and a face of the sash. This fiange, like the flanges 40 and 41 of the side weather strips, becomes compressed between the parting strip 26 and the sash 33 when the latter is closed partly due to its shape and slightly due to the lateral movement of the sash 33 caused by the wedge strips 27.

One of the meeting rails of the sash 33 and 34 is provided with a. resilient metal weather strip 45 which engages the other meeting rail rmly not only because of the bevel ofthe adjacent edges of the meeting rails, but also partly because of the lateral movement of the meeting rails toward each other due to the taper of the wedge strips 27 and 28. The bottom rail of the lower sash 34 is grooved to receive a conventional Weather strip 45.

As' previously stated, the inner window frame section is delivered to the job-in the form of the special package illustrated in Fig. 7. Blocks 46 are tacked temporarily to the head strip 40 to protect the pulleys 31 during shipment; both sash 33 and 34 are moved to full elevated position and secured by temporary blocks or cleats 47 nailed to the runways of the frame. Spacer pieces 48 of felt paper are then inserted between the frame and sash to fill the clearance space therebetween and to overlap the edges of the frame. Metal crating bands 49 are then passed entirely around the frame, crossing upon the felt pieces 48 and being tacked at 50 (see Fig. 4) lto the side of the frame. The sash, balances, and weather stripping are all fitted and applied at the factory. l

After the plastering has dried out and other rough work completed incident to erecting the building, the packaged inner frame is taken into the building, and the crating bands 49 removed from the outer face of the frame, but the banding across the inner vface of the frame together with the associated packing 48 are not disturbed, as suggested in Fig. 4. In addition the blocks 46 and packing felts 48 of the unbanded frame are also removed. The entire inner frame is then lifted and its outer edges placed against the section l1, 11' of the outer frame. The jamb strips 1l', as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, are provided` with positioning beads or flanges 51 which serve to center the inner' frame with respect to the outer frame. The inner frame is then lowered until its sill 22 rests upon the outer frame sill 16 and the carpenter then reaches through the lower half of the window opening and inserts nails 52 through the blind stop 15 into the inner frame, and if desired also through the inner sill' 52 into the outer sill 16. 'Ihe balance of the banding 49 is removed and both sash lowered affording an opening through which the carpenter may reach to similarly nail the upper parts of the two frames together.

Filling strips 53 (Fig. 2) are then applied to the inner edges of the inner frame by inserting their tongues in grooves `54 in the head strip 20h and jamb strips 20'. Walls vary in thickness, hence these filling strips 53 are used in various thicknesses as suggested in Fig. 6, sizes being selected so that when the filling strips are in place, their inside edges come flush with the exposed face of the plaster. `A plain'flller strip 53' (Fig. 2) is applied to the inside edge of the sill 22 to come iiush with the plaster 6.4 Conventional inside trim 55 is then applied to bridge the plaster and filling strips 53, 53 and usua stool 56 applied by tongue and groove connection to the sill 22. Finishing molding or window stop 57 is then applied tov conceal the filling strips 53, 53' and to provide inside sash stops. At any time after the two sills 16 and 22 have been installed, the joint between them is closed by a molding 58.

Thus it will be seen that under the present invention the window frame is constructed in two sections, only the section which cannot readily be damagedduring erection of the building and plastering being installed during erection of the superstructure, and the other section with sash fitted, hung, and weatherstrippedat the factory and delivered to the job crated as a special package being installed from the building interior and only after plastering and other rough work likely to cause mening, warping, twisting and swelling of the frame and sash has been completed.

In the construction of easement windows, the window frame is, as in thev case of double hung windows described, divided into two sections. The outer window frame section is substantially identical with that employed with double hung windows and is installed as before during erection of the superstructure, while the inner window frame is not installeduntil after plastering and other work likely to cause damage thereto has been completed.

As in the case of the double hung window, the easement window may be applied to any type of wall, but will be described applied 'to a brick faced wall. The basic wall is indicated "by the brace B in Fig. 14, and may be of any conventional construction, though in the example, consists of studding, of which the studding 60, 60 and 60" form the head, jamb and sill members framing a Window opening. The room side of the wall may be finished in any conventional manner. though lathing 6l and plastering 62 are here adopted. The wall is faced with brick 63 and the space between the basic wall and the facing is filled or not lled as desired, though in the example it is filled with mortar or the like 64 and a Wood fixing layer 65, the latter framing the window opening.` A conventional lintel 66 may constitute a part of the block wall facing between which and the fixing layer 65 is interposed builders paper 67, the latter being received in a groove between the head strips 68 and 69 of the outer window frame section. The head strips 68 and 69 are jointed as in the previous case to jamb strips 68' and 69 respectively and the latter are jointed .as in the previous case to the sill 70. When multiple windows are installed, it is necessary to employ intermediate muntins 68" or 69 which are conventionally jointed with the'head strips 68 and 69 respectively and the sill '70. The strips of the inner layer of the outer frame section are secured to the strips of the outer layer thereof by ribs 71 on the strips 69, 69 and 69" engaging into grooves 72 formed inthe adjacent faces of the strips 68, 68 and 68", screws 73 positively securing the two layers together.

The inner window frame section is received Aon the job packaged as illustrated in Fig. 17, with the easement window sash, fitted, hung and weatherstripped at the factory ready to be installed.

Feet pads 78 are inserted in the clearance spaces between the sash and frame and the frame is forced tightly ag..inst the sash and so held by metal cross bandings 79, 79' lwhich extend at intervals across the frame and are secured by nails 80 to the sides of' the frame. This prevents distortion of theframe and-its sash during shipment and since the bandings 79' rest upon the pads 78 no mutilation will be caused to the indoor sides of the frame and sash by the metal bandings. Since the outdoor sides of the frame and sash are usually puttied and painted, it is immaterial if the metal bands contact directly withthose sides of the same since any mutilations will thereby be filled and covered in the usual manner.

When multi-openings are employed, vertical muntins 81 are provided intermediate the jamb pieces 76, and when transoms 82 are employed, a cross muntin or head piece 83 is provided between the opposite jamb pieces 76, and' said piecev 83 intersects and joints with the vertical muntins 81. The side and bottom edges of the transoms 82 are rabbeted to fit the rabbeted jamb and muntin pieces 76 and 83. The transoms are usually permanently applied, butl if they are to open, they will receive the same treatment as the lower sash.

vThe lower sash in general are of conventional parallel pane construction, as are the .transoms and include top and bottom rails 84, 85 respectively and stiles 86. The bottom rails 85 and stiles 86 are rabbetted to provide ribs 87 which engage ribs 88 provided in the rabbeted jamb and sill pieces 7 6 and 77 respectively ofthe frame. These sash are hinged at 89 in conventional manner.

The weatherstripping consists of metal strips 90 tacked along o ne edge at 91 to the outer edges of the top and bottom rails and Stiles 84, 85, 86 respectively of the sash and their free edges spring outwardly into engagement with the adjacent walls of the side and sill pieces '76 and 77 and cross muntin 83.

After the ground strips 62 have been applied and plastering and other wet and rough work in constructing the building has been completed, the crated inner frame sections are taken into the building and the banding 79 removed, the banding 79' remaining in place. The entire inner frame section is lifted into engagement withV the pieces 69 and 69' of the outer frame, being centered thereon, as well as on the muntins 69" by ribs or beads 92. When in place, the bottom sash rail '77 will seat upon the outer frame sill 70, being rabbeted to conform thereto. Screws 93 are then inserted by way of grooves 94 through the various inner frame pieces into the outer frame and muntin pieces 69, 69' and 69". These screws 93 securely hold the two frame sections together and the joint between the inner sill 77 and the outer sill 70 is covered by molding 95.

The inner frame being now securely fixed to the outer frame, the banding 79 on the indoor side of the frame are removed. The pads 78 may be removed at the same time or later, as desired. Rabbeted filling pieces 96 having their tongues v 97 entered into the groove 94 until their edges on the room side come flush with the face of the plaster 62, when such pieces which extend as boxing around the top and sides of each opening are properly secured in place. A stool piece 98 rabbeted to have a tongue 99 is engaged by the side filling pieces 96 and its tongue 99 is received in the groove 94 of the inner frame sill 77. An apron 100 bridges the gap between the plaster 62 and stool 98 and trim 101 bridges the gap between the plaster and inner window frame sections.

Figure 16 shows how two inner frame sections 76 are united at the muntins, on the outside of the building by the muntins 68", 69 and on the room side by the muntin trim 102 and llng pieces 96. A finishing strip 103 is secured to the outer face of the cross muntins 83, and extends between the jamb pieces 761 of the inner frame sections and also between the jambs 68', 69 and muntins 68, 69" of the outer frame section.

The gap between the filling pieces 96 and the inner frame section, which varies according to the thickness of the building wall, is covered by window-stop molding 105. This molding joints with cross trim 106 and 107, as well as vertical muntin trim 108, and the latter joints with said trim 105 and 106. The molding 104, and trim 105, 106 and 107 form stops for the transoms and lower sash.

The flexible builders paper 9 and 67 may be applied in any desired manner, though usually it is inserted between the layers of the outer frame section projecting apron-like therefrom and after the outer frame section has been installed is incorporated between the wall proper and its facing.

The spacer pieces 48 and 78 in the two packages are not inserted in the clearance spaces between the weather strips and the frame but in the space between theA sash and frame where no weatherstripping occurs. To place them where the weatherstripping occurs, would cause unnecessary compression of the weatherstripping in which position the latter may become compressed if the package remained for any great length of time before being uncrated.

Stress is placed upon the importance of not installing the inner frames, in both forms of the invention, until all rough and wet work has been completed, and upon the fact that both frames have their sash initially fitted, hung and weatherstripped at the factory and shipped in a crated condition which prevents distortion or mutilation. By simply removing the banding on the outdoor sides, the frames are lifted in place and readily attached to the outer frame. The indoor banding keeps the frame, or at least that portion thereof, tight against the pads and sash so that distortion from the factory tted condition cannot occur before installation. Thereafter the bandings may be removed, leaving only the trimming out operation to be done to complete all work required in installing the window complete ready for service.

The bandings, it will be noted, serve as handholds during carrying and installation of the crated frames and sash.

While the invention has been particularly applied to the method of constructing and installing window frames and sash, it will be understood that the same principles may also be applied to the installation of doors and that the terms window and door are to be construed synonomously.

What is claimed;

1. The method of constructing and installing a window frame and its sash, consisting in constructing the frame to include inner and outer sections, installing the outer section in a window opening in a wall, providing the inner section with an oiset inner face, providing sash with an oilset outer edge, providing one portion of the offset edge of the sash with weather-stripping to yieldingly engage some part of the inner frame section, initially fitting the sash in the inner frame section, inserting and temporarily confining packing between the inner frame section and the portion of the offset edge of the sash which is free of weather-stripping, assembling and securing the inner frame section to the outer frame section, and removing the packing material when danger of springing the inner frame section out of shape is past.

2. The method of constructing and installing window and like frames, consisting in initially tting, weatherstripping and hanging the sash in the frame, inserting packing in the clearance spaces between the sash and frame apart from the zone of the weatherstripping, initially pressing the frame tightly against the sash and packing and so securing the same by crating battens, placing packing between the battens and indoor sides of the frame to hold the battens out of contact therewith and with the indoor sides of the sash, then installing the frame andremoving the battens and packing.

3. The method of constructing and installing a window and its sash, consisting in constructing the frame to include inner and outer sections, installing the outer section in a window opening in a wall, initially fitting and hanging the sash in the inner section, securing battens across the inner section to brace the same against distortion and to hold the sash therein, installing the braced inner section with its sash in the window opening and permanently securing the inner section to the outer section before removing the battens.

4. The method of constructing and installing a window and its sash, consisting in constructing the frame to include inner and outer sections, installing the outer section in a window opening in a Wall, initially fitting the sash in the inner section, inserting spacing members between the edges of the window and the inner section, applying bracing members on opposite sides of said inner section to prevent its distortion and to hold the sash therein during shipping, installing the braced section with its sash in the window opening and permanently securing the inner section to the outer section before removing all of the bracing.

5. The method of constructing and installing a window and its sash, consisting in constructing the frame to include inner and outer sections, installing the outer section in a window opening in a wall, initially tting the sash in the inner section, applying bracing to the inner section to 

